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10 Top Rated Compact Cars

Even though they’re not as popular as compact SUVs, today’s top-rated compact cars have plenty of advantages. For example, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested its first class of 2019 vehicles, nearly twice as many “Small Cars” were honored compared to “small suvs.”

Of course, compact cars also can deliver higher fuel economy ratings than their SUV counterparts, and the latest sport compacts feature incredible levels of performance. Luxury cues? Those are available in compact cars, as well. And if you do need to maximize storage space, you can always opt for a compact hatchback or a station wagon. In fact, if you go that route, you actually can get more cargo capacity than in some small SUVs. Here are 10 top-rated compact cars.

2019 Honda Insight

Like many of our top-rated compact cars, the 2019 Honda Insight is a winning choice for a lot of reasons. For one, the Insight has a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, complete with the highest possible grades in all major testing categories - including for headlight performance.

Certainly helping matters are standard features like automatic forward emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a multi-angle rearview camera. The car then relies on its standard hybrid powertrain for EPA ratings of up to 55 mpg city/49 mpg highway/52 mpg combined. Also giving the Insight high ratings were the editors of Green Car Journal, naming the car their 2019 Green Car of the Year.

2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

The top-rated compact cars for cargo space are led by the 2019 Golf SportWagen. Now, that’s no surprise, since the car is the only mainstream compact station wagon currently on the market. But what you may not expect is just how big that cargo capacity is.

When its rear seats are being used, the SportWagen still has 30.4 cubic feet of storage space in the back. This jumps to 66.5 cubic feet after the 60/40 split-folding rear seats are both moved out of the way. In comparison, a small SUV like the 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport offers 22.9 and 61.1 cubic feet (respectively) in the same configurations. The SportWagen also checks in with a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA.

2019 Hyundai Ioniq

As for fuel-economy grades, the top-rated compact cars include a relatively new name at the very top of the heap. It’s the Hyundai Ioniq, which took over as the most efficient unplugged car in the country after it was launched in the 2017 model year. The 2019 Ioniq continues to hold down that position, with EPA ratings that can reach 57 mpg city/59 mpg highway/58 mpg combined.

Also scoring a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, the Ioniq adds more driver-assistance technology this year. A driver-attention monitor and automatic high beams are now optional, and there’s wider availability for last year’s equipment, too. For instance, automatic forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control have become standard for the SEL trim.

2019 Subaru WRX

The 2019 Subaru WRX isn’t just one of the top-rated compact cars, it’s also one of the segment’s top-rated performance cars. That’s partly because WRX is an iconic sport compact that can squeeze 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Subaru also ensures an athletic driving experience with standard features like a sport-tuned suspension, all-wheel drive, active torque vectoring, and a six-speed manual transmission.

Another benefit: The WRX is one of the few dedicated sports cars to win a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. (The track-friendly WRX STI can dial up 310 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, and it comes with a driver-controlled center differential, but the IIHS didn’t test it as a separate model.)

2019 Acura ILX

The 2019 Acura ILX is an upscale alternative to the top-rated compact cars from the mainstream brands. That’s based on information from the government’s key automotive-safety program. To be exact, the 2019 ILX earned a perfect 5 Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA, with 5 Stars in all tests (including frontal crash protection, side crash protection, and roof strength in rollover situations).

Acura bolsters those scores with new standard safety technology this year. All ILX models now are equipped with adaptive cruise control, automatic forward emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. You also can order new infotainment options such as a dual-screen infotainment system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Best of all, the car’s MSRP actually has been cut by $2,200 for 2019.

2019 Audi A3

Looking for even higher levels of luxury in one of the top-rated compact cars? We recommend test driving the 2019 Audi A3. As the entry car in the Audi lineup, the A3 still boasts premium standard content like leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, LED daytime running lights, and a nine-speaker audio system.

The car offers upscale technologies, too, ranging from a Bang & Olufsen audio system to Audi’s “virtual cockpit.” This replaces analog gauges with a full digital readout that can be configured to show not just information like the vehicle’s speed, but also infotainment and navigation views. The A3 also gets into today’s gallery with a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

2019 Hyundai Elantra

For solid basic transportation, the top-rated compact cars include the 2019 Hyundai Elantra. This is a mainstream entry that doesn’t have a specific standout feature like a massive amount of cargo space, a hybrid powertrain, or a high-performance engine. The Elantra does, however, have full Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the IIHS.

Next, Hyundai complements those results with a long list of popular equipment. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, automatic forward emergency braking, forward-collision warning, wireless charging, and heated seats all are available. True, these technologies also are available on a lot of other compacts, but not in combination with Elantra’s safety ratings - or its fuel-economy ratings. The Elantra Eco model can post an EPA line of 32 mpg city/40 mpg highway/35 mpg combined.

2019 Subaru BRZ

The evidence is anecdotal but overwhelming: The top-rated compact cars for grassroots racers - or any enthusiast on a budget - are highlighted by the 2019 Subaru BRZ. The BRZ checks all the boxes with a rear-wheel-drive powertrain, dynamic handling, an exotic design, and a relatively low MSRP.

The starting price for Subaru’s compact sport coupe is $25,795. That undercuts the cost of a comparable Toyota 86 by more than $650. At a higher price point, the BRZ Limited can add a Performance package with Brembo brakes and Sachs Performance shock absorbers. Subaru also has you covered if you want something more stylish. The limited-edition “Series.Gray” wears a distinctive Cool Gray Khaki exterior finish, 17-inch black aluminum-alloy wheels, and red cabin stitching.

2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class can meet your demands for high-end luxury, sophisticated technology, and brisk performance, all while meeting our criteria for the top-rated compact cars.

Right off the bat, the C-Class sedan received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. You’ll also notice a nice bump in the car’s output ratings. The standard turbo engine in the entry model, the C300 sedan, gains 14 horsepower compared to last year. The 2019 model can convert 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque into a 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds. Further updates for the 2019 C-Class family include refreshed styling, upgraded driver-assistance measures, and an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.

2019 Genesis G70

The last of our top-rated compact cars came in first place in an important industry competition. The 2019 Genesis G70, an all-new luxury sport sedan, was named this year’s North American Car of the Year during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Said Lauren Fix, president of the organization behind the honor: “The Genesis G70 is a game changer for the sedan market. G70 offers a sophisticated, impressive vehicle that delivers an inspired driving experience, safety, and technology at a reasonable price.” To live up to that claim, the car provides a standard rear-wheel-drive powertrain, a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, and a starting price of $34,900.